LED ZEPPELIN IV

ALBUM REVIEW

We may earn an affiliate commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links from our site. Learn more

Help Support Metal Nerdery https://www.patreon.com/metalnerderypodcast

Listen on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean, or wherever you get your Podcasts.

Leave us a Voicemail to be played on a future episode: 980-666-8182

Follow us on the Socials:
Facebook - Instagram - Twitter

Can’t be LOUD Enough Playlist on Spotify

Metal Nerdery Munchies on YouTube

ZEPPELIN on the InterWebs:

https://www.ledzeppelin.com/

Imagine being in a record store, just flipping through the LED ZEPPELIN section of albums on November 8, 1971, and finding an album that appeared unfamiliar, mysterious, and perhaps even a bit out of place. The album cover gave no reference as to the band’s name or any discernible album title, the back cover had no track listing, there were no pictures of the band.

There was nothing.

On the front cover, there is nothing more than a framed picture showing an old, bearded man standing with a cane and carrying a large bundle of sticks on his back, hanging on the weathered wall of a semi-demolished home once belonging to someone who has long since passed away.

On the back cover, a high-rise apartment building jutting into the bleak, grey sky, surrounded by smaller apartment homes and lush greenery in the foreground.

On the spine of the album, where one would expect to see the name of the band and the name of the album, there were only four distinct, unusual symbols. In time, it would come to be known by many names: RUNES, ZOSO, UNTITLED, and the most common name of them all, LED ZEPPELIN IV, which would go on to become the biggest selling album in the band’s catalog and one of the top 10 biggest selling albums in the history of ALL music.

Released Nov 8 1971

Recorded Dec 1970 – Feb 1971

Label Atlantic

Producer Jimmy Page

Robert Plant – vocals, harmonica

Jimmy Page – electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin

John Paul Jones – bass, electric piano, mandolin, recorders, synthesiser

John Bonham – drums

Additional musicians

Sandy Denny – duet vocals on The Battle of Evermore

Ian Stewart – piano on Rock and Roll

TRACKS

Get ready to “have a good August” and remember that “sometimes words have 12 meanings” because it’s time to take “Dry July” a step further and step up your “pause game” while we share some kind words regarding our neighbors that were likely caused by a case of “Alabama jet lag”. Discover the only other thing that was missing from Gojira’s historic performance at the Olympic opening ceremonies other than “dragons and more fire”, understand the real reason why we ALL had to learn to play “the recorder” in elementary school, and JOIN US as we pay tribute to the sonic “transmogrification” of LED ZEPPELIN and dive into the enigmatic mystery that is their 4th (and otherwise “Untitled”) album, LED ZEPPELIN IV.

BLACK DOG

The beginning resembles the sound of a dog shuffling along, wagging its tail, walking down a country lane outside Headley Grange.

That riff is such a strange time signature, it’s like it’s in 4/4 but it’s not. it’s got a huge sound, really thick (and girthy). This was played all over FM rock radio back in the day. Actually, this entire album has been played all over rock radio for decades (and probably still is to this day).

“I don’t know, but I been told,

A big legged woman ain’t got no soul…”

ROCK AND ROLL

This sounds like old school 50’s rock and roll with more balls and a lot of steroids. Always a reminder of the opening of The Song Remains The Same (the movie). There’s a lot of weight and a lot of space on this song (and on this album overall). The piano gives it a mid-to late 50’s rock and roll feel.

“It’s been a long time since The Book of Love,

I can’t count the tears of a life with no love…”

THE BATTLE OF EVERMORE

This song was definitely a grower from our younger years, though it’s definitely a favorite these days. Very visual and incredibly vivid. There’s definitely an atmosphere to the interplay between Robert Plant and Sandy Denny. Think J.R.R. Tolkien and The Lord Of The Rings: you can practically feel the cool air of autumn as a brisk wind blows the black clouds across the bleak, grey, lifeless sky.

For an acoustic, unplugged style song with mandolins as the primary focus (not to mention the acoustic guitar), there’s a considerable weight to this song.

“The pain of war cannot exceed,

The woe of aftermath,

The drums will shake the castle wall,

The Ringwraiths ride in black,

Ride on…”

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

Perhaps one of THE most iconic and recognized songs in all of recorded music. Call it timeless art, call it audio zen, there is nothing else like this song, and there will never be anything else quite like this song.

BTW, they used RECORDERS (not flutes) at the beginning. Remember recorders? That instrument we all learned to play (against our will) back in elementary school for some unknown reason?

Maybe they were trying to get us interested in learning how to play the intro to THIS song.

“It makes me wonder…”

The way this song builds is unlike anything else to come before or after, gradually escalating toward greater and greater heights, creating a growing tension that slowly swells in intensity, making its way to the guitar solo and the climactic conclusion that immediately follows prior to the hauntingly quiet ending. An exquisitely sublime example of the song craft that made Led Zeppelin so unbelievably legendary.

Be sure to check out the Kennedy Center Honors version of “Stairway” featuring Ann and Nancy Wilson from Heart with Jason Bonham on drums. It’s easily one of the finest “non-Led Zeppelin” performances of this song ever (even Bobby thinks so).

“Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run,

There’s still time to change the road you’re on…”

MISTY MOUNTAIN HOP

Killer opener, Side 2.

The first track on the record with keyboards and/or electric piano (which, aren’t they basically the same thing?). It’s definitely heavy. The verse has a really strange vocal cadence to it. And that harmony solo is definitely different and seemingly something new for Zeppelin (not sure if there were harmony guitar solos on any of the first 3 albums).

“So I’m packing my bags for the misty mountains,

Where the spirits go now,

Over the hills where the spirits fly…”

FOUR STICKS

Apparently, the drums were actually played with four sticks (versus the standard 2). This one has a strange, aggressive, heavier feel than the rest of the album. It’s basically a John Bonham drum solo with a song fashioned to fit around it. The keyboard/synthesizer action at the very end adds a little extra atmosphere and strangeness.

“Ooh yeah, brave I endure,

Ooh yeah, strong shields and lore,

And they can’t hold the wrath of those who walk,

An’ the boots of those who march,

Baby through the roads of time so long ago…”

GOING TO CALIFORNIA

Guitars and mandolins…this could easily fit on LZIII. Kinda makes you want to hang out in a field on a clear fall day with a pretty lady who will “smoke my stuff and drink all my wine”.

“Ride a white mare in the footsteps of dawn,

Tryin’ to find a woman who’s never, never, never been born…”

WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS

One of, if not THE heaviest drum intros on any song ever. This sounds like it would fit right at home on the first Led Zeppelin record, or even LZII for that matter (probably because it’s a cover of an old blues song, and actually, maybe the only cover on this album).

This one seems to get a little forgotten about. It definitely got some radio play back in the day but not like the rest of the album. Those who were coming of age in the mid-80’s probably remember this as the from The Beastie Boys Licensed to ILL album (specifically ‘Rhymin & Stealin’).

Be sure to listen to this song (and really the entire album) with headphones to ensure you don’t miss all the layers and textures.

Thank you and HAIL to Led Zeppelin for releasing one of the finest and best-selling albums of all time.

“Don’t it make you feel bad,

When you’re tryin’ to find your way home

You don’t know which way to go?”

Show Notes:

(00:01): “Let’s do #afterdark early…” / #instagram #pausegame #softcorehardcoreporncore #glazeddonut / “Ooooh, it’s a snake with it’s mouth open…”/ #subliminalporn / “It’s still #DryJuly and I took it a step further…”/ #dryjacking / “I got laid yesterday…”/ ***WARNING: #listenerdiscretionisadvised *** / “That is…a tasty beverage…” / #BoylanBottlingCompany #CremeSoda #CaneSugar / “Three more days…”/ “You don’t have to though…you’ve exorcised the demon…” / ***WELCOME BACK TO THE METAL NERDERY PODCAST!!!*** / “Counting down the end…”/ ***If you wanna skip the nonsense…go to #TheDocket *** / “The appetizers are sometimes as good, if not better, than the main course…” / #thisepisodesbeeroftheepisode #AkademiaBrewing #Skal / “That’s the #blackmetal #Norwegian dot…” / “Sorry…”/ #powerburpASMR / “It’s like #instantforgiveness …”/ “I kinda dig your state, man…” / #HooverAlabama / “There were a lot of pretty people there…” / “Everybody’s baby and honey out there…”/ #RussellsRoadtripReflectionsASMR / #ToddPacker #TheOffice / “I’ve seen clips, and that’s it…” / “Is that guy a porn star?” / “You were way off…”/ #OfficeTrivia / “Dude, that sounded wet and cavernous…”/ “He came down and did some crowd work (with my wife) …”/ #StardomeTheater / “Food was good…”/ #TheNewPunchline vs #TheOldPunchline

(11:41): You can #correspondancize with us on #Instagram and #Facebook and #YouTube OR you can email us at metalnerdery@gmail.com OR you can JOIN US on #Patreon at patreon.com/metalnerderypodcast OR you can GIVE US A CALL AND LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL AT 980-666-8182!!! / #skoobitaboosh #VoicemailSegment #KenFromConnecticut / “Listening to a lot of your old episodes…again.” / #AllThatRemains and #PrideAndGlory / “Twangle…”/ “The pictures that #TripSix sent us…” / #ScreamFromTheBalls and #WhisperFromTheBalls #GeoffTaint #BestSellers / “Matthew is my #ghostwriter …”/ “Check this shit out…”/ #allegedly / #turkeysdone / ***THANK YOU TO OUR PATREONS!!!*** / #PatreonShoutout / “It’s a hard G…”/ ***If y’all have requests for #ThePatreon send us an email or a voicemail!*** / #DoomsicleASMR / “Dude, that sounded chunky…and wet…”/ #ANALysis / “PS, do a #Dethklok episode…”/ #fixitinpost / #AshesOfLeviathanTour / “Three days ago…” / #ohhhdamn

(19:53): “Did you guys see #Gojira?” / #OpeningCeremonies #Olympics (NOTE: “Ah! Ca Ira” is the song that #Gojira performed, which translates to “It will be fine…”) / #letthemeatcake / “They should bring that back…”/ “They need dragons and more fire…she needs to have her tits out.”/ “That’s last month’s news…”/ “That sounds Arabic…what you did.” / “Whichever one is more offensive…we’re trying to get female listeners…”

(24:31): “Let’s do #TheDocket …” / METAL NERDERY PODCAST PRESENTS: LED ZEPPELIN IV / RUNES / #ZOSO / UNTITLED / #LedZeppelin #LedZeppelinIV / “I think we’re ALL thinking it, let’s go ahead and say it…c’mon, is it NOT!?” / “That’s not what I said, I did not say it!” / “I wonder if I heard this first and went backwards…” / “Almost everything on here was radio stuff…”/ #HeadleyGrange / Everything had to be louder because of #JohnHenryBonham / Released November 8, 1971 / “Isn’t that weird to think about?” / “He’s not just a bass player…” / “Obviously a bass player can be a musician, but not all musicians can be bass players, I don’t think…” / “He went from guitar to bass…you can’t use that word anymore…” / #transition #transform #transportation #transmogrification #TransAm / #killeropener BLACK DOG / “The time is weird…the drums kind of overlap…”/ “It’s kind of a WTF opener…”/ “I don’t know what I’ve been told…” / #sixtomidnight / “What do you think was THE most played song on the radio other than Stairway?” / “Of the songs on here, what’s your LEAST favorite?” / “It’s folky…”/ “I think it’s almost like their #EnterSandman …” / ROCK AND ROLL #killeropener on #TheSongRemainsTheSame #TheMovie / “The rhythm section of that band made Jimmy Page’s guitar sound WAY bigger…” / “Live, his guitar sound was kickass…” / #MidnightMovies

(40:10): “I didn’t like it initially…but I like it now.” / “It’s like a cloudy, rainy day…”/ #boinkboink / THE BATTLE OF EVERMORE (“It’s kinda got a creepy vibe to it…”) / “She looks like a witch…”/ “Bring it back…” / “Okay, be honest…at what point did you strive to learn #StairwayToHeaven ?” / #fingerings / “They were telling you how to finger…”/ #guitarlessons / “It’s a D suspended 4 pentagramian testicular chord…”/ “He put in the time…I wanted to get laid…”/ “I could do instant…instant’s cool.”/ #cricketsASMR / STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN (“Let’s just reflect on this…on a Sunday afternoon”) / “There are no happy accidents…just babies.” / NOTE: That’s actually a recorder, not an organ or a flute…a recorder. Remember, the recorder? That one instrument we ALL learned to play in elementary school for whatever bizarre reason? / #TwelveMeanings / “But I’ve got some good news…” / “It sounds so big…it’s totally huge.” / “That’s something that’s not done anymore…”/ “Oh there’s #backmasking and weird stuff…”

(56:29): “What do you mean there’s ‘moments’?” / #HaveAGoodAugust / “Side 2 might be better than Side 1?” / “You’ve got #AlabamaJetLag …” / MISTY MOUNTAIN HOP #killeropener #sidetwo / “I like this one a little more now than I did then…”/ “That’s a lot of material for such a short timespan…”/ “It’s like #antimarketing …”/ “There was no internet…you had to guess…”/ FOUR STICKS (“Somebody should do a doom version of this if they haven’t already…”) / “I don’t remember…that part…”/ “And THEN I went backwards…most everything I heard was on the radio…” / “When they did that in the death metal voice…every single fucking time…that’s what they played.” / “I know it’s not June, but it’s gotta be made before we go to California…” / #logistics #topsandbottoms

(1:07:58): “Big Gulps, huh?” / GOING TO CALIFORNIA (“Someone told me there’s a squirrel out there…”) / #LedZeppelinIIIASMR / “It’s a #motif …”/ NOTE: It was recorded in the LOBBY (and/or Hallway) of #HeadleyGrange but there were microphones hung in the stairwell / #BeastieBoys RHYMIN’ & STEALIN’ / #drumsamplingASMR / WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS (“The harmonica makes it heavier…”) / “How did I miss that? You must have pounded the other one then…” / #itssore #downthere / (Potential) Tracking changes / “Even a casual listener probably has this record…”/ #RussellsReflections80sEditionASMR / “Did you buy the 45 or the whole album?” / “I had #PacManFever …#YouTube it, we’ve got a few minutes…”/ PAC-MAN FEVER (“Now we’ve gotta listen to #Sabbath”) / #arcades (“$5 then was like a month’s worth of groceries today…”) / #videogames #videoarcades #Intellivision #ColecoVision #Atari2600 / “Dude, that did not age well…” / “You could do it, but why would you?” / “They’re all ROMs…whatever…”/ #tobefair / “The irony which is not lost on me…” / #SpareChange #allegedly / THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND THANK YOU TO OUR PATREONS AND THANK YOU TO LED ZEPPELIN!!! / #outroreel / ***COME GRAB YOUR METAL NERDERY GEAR AT metalnerdery.com/merch ***

HOME

MORE EPISODES